Which candidates will drop out?

[WillyBrandt]

Does anybody have any likely scenarios for Dem candidates dropping out?

Of course, as a Clark supporter, I want it to be a Dean/Clark showdown where the best man can win, but I realize that won't come about anytime soon.

So, anyway, how will it look? Edwards sticking around until at least South Carolina? Will Lieberman stink the whole way through, or will he quit after NH/Iowa? (Can he afford, financially, otherwise?) Will it ever get to a Clark/Dean race (with perhaps Braun and Kucinich far in the back?)

Will any of the candidates running drop out an endorse Clark and/or Dean?

At minimum, which candidate will drop out first?

[MikeG]

1. I hope that they all stay in until the convention.

That way the Republicans will have to do opposition research on nine different people.

[oasis]

12. There ya go. good idea

[quinnox]

2. depends

on what happens in the primaries. There are scenarios where any of the top candidates might drop out, including Clark and Dean.

If Gephardt doesn't win Iowa, or at least come in a very close second, he might be the first to go. If he does win Iowa, then I would say Lieberman will be the first major candidate to go later on.

Also, of the long shot candidates, I think Kucinich might make an early exit in order to concentrate on his congressional race. Braun and Sharpton might stay in a long time, they have nothing to lose.

Edwards might go if he doesn't at least win or place in South Carolina.

[WillyBrandt]

3. Why the hell is Braun still in the race

It is becoming totally ridiculous. The primaries are rapidly approaching.

She is barely campaigning. Her web-site is basically empty. Her "campaign" such as it is, seems to consist of showing up to the debates and putting forth perfectly cogent liberal boilerplate--it's stuff I agree with, but a presidential campaign it does not make.

She didn't even get her act together to get on the VA primary.

Every other candidate, to some extent, has some rationale--be it noble, ignoble, or neutral--for their candidacy. CMB has none.

We are trying to oust George fucking Bush and she's running a goddamn vanity "campaign" as a lark.

When is she officially out?

[quinnox]

4. I think she might be setting up a later senate run

or maybe she is angling for a possible cabinet position in case the Dem wins in 2004. She gets a lot of publicity for running for president.

Or it might just be to show a black woman can run for president, maybe she is trying to inspire people.

[WillyBrandt]

5. She's doing a crappy job of inspiring people

It'd be one thing if she were running an energetic campaign, putting in her all. But she isn't. At all. She's has perfectly wonderful positions on issues, but nothing else: it's got the energy of a campaign for retirement community treasurer.

It's a fucking travesty that she would be doing this to prop up future Senate prospects. The stakes are so high that screwing around for kicks is just horrible.

[BobbyJay]

6. If they all stay in for the long haul it helps Dean and hurts Clark.

It just splits the voting up and Dean wins the whole thing with like 25% in each state.

[WillyBrandt]

7. Exactly

That's my worry.

If the other drop out, and it's Dean/Clark, I think the odds are still somewhat in Dean's favor, but at least he'll win a proper victory.

My initial nightmare, incidentally--and this is certainly the bastard's hope--is Lieberman squeaking by with a victory because the vote is so split.

[MikeG]

8. If any drop out, I hope Lieberman is first.

[WillyBrandt]

9. Amen, brother

Not only is there symbolic worth in that, but it clears the field a bit.

[mitchum]

10. Graham

What? Oh...nevermind...

[WillyBrandt]

11. Is your handle from the deoderant

That's such a good deodorant.

So Effective that you can skip a day.